Online Safety

Online Safety is an integral part of children’s education in today’s digital world and is embedded in their learning at school.  We also want to help our parents and children improve their own understanding on keeping safe online, so we have developed this page to offer updated E-safety information and top tips.

As a parent or carer, you will know how important the internet is to children – they use it to learn, play and socialise.  The technology children use every day can seem a bit daunting and you might worry about the risks your child can face online – such as bullying, contact from strangers or the possibility of them seeing illegal or inappropriate content.  As a school, we would like to encourage children to use this technology, but with a good understanding of keeping themselves safe.

Here are some conversation starters from www.childnet.com

  • Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.
  • Asking them about how they stay safe online.  What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them?  What is OK and not OK to share?
  • Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block the services they use.
  • Encourage them to help.  Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.
  • Think about how you use the internet as a family.  What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online.

Please find below guidance on technology, applications and websites that children use.  We recommend that you use the information below as guidance and use your own judgement when implementing any kind of action.

Social Media and App Age Restrictions

 

  • Safe Smartphone Use Guide – A useful guide with many different tips such as, how to change the privacy settings on your child’s phone, information about different social media and different apps that you can download to help keep your child safe when using a smartphone.

Below are some useful websites that explain how to:

protect your child when they are using the internet, promote safe on-line behaviour; and develop awareness of the potential threats when on-line.

  • Thinkuknow – provides excellent information for parents and children about internet safety.
  • NSPCC Online Safety – provides helpful advice on keeping your child safe online.
  • Digital Parenting – has excellent advice and guidance for parents around e-safety.
  • Parent Info – provides great advice on how to ensure safe use of social media apps.
  • Parental controls – This website offers useful advice about parental controls and also offers links to other sites.
  • Use YouTube Kids rather than Youtube – You Tubes kids has been created to make it safer and simpler for children to watch online videos